After spending decades sailing San Francisco Bay in small sailboats, Dave Bacon experienced a midlife crisis and decided to leave it all behind and take a cruise. The year is 1981 and a small Bear class sloop with Dave at the tiller passed under the Golden Gate, turned south, and set out into the unknown. Dave thought he knew much more than he actually did and was about to learn that he was sailing from behind the curve. What happened next is a true story of excitement and adventure where each day is filled with new experiences, and that learning and growing is the key to survival.